Daniel 1:1

Introduction

              Perhaps one of the greatest struggles we face is the clashing of cultures.  Where do you stand on the following issues:

• Do you believe that a person’s faith should be private or should it be expressed openly?
• Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to God or are there other ways?
• Do you believe that it is ok for a person to do whatever they want as long as they do not hurt anyone or do you believe that there are things that are absolutely wrong even if no one is hurt?
• Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God or do you believe that it is a book made by men that has some good things to say?
• Do you believe that life begins at conception or do you think human life begins at birth?
• Do you believe that people living together outside of marriage is just a choice people can make or do you believe that a sexual relationship outside of marriage is a sin?
• Do you believe that cheating, lying and stealing are always wrong or do you believe that they are acceptable if they help you get ahead?

I could go on and on with these question.  I will say with certainty that if I asked them on any college campus, in any school building, in any office building that I would have divided opinions on all of the questions I raise.

It is against this backdrop that Jesus has called us to proclaim the Word of God.  We have a responsibility to share God’s truth in a world that hated Jesus.  We don’t like people hating us, but it may be the cost for following Christ.

Which is what intrigues me about the book of Daniel.  Here is a man who had both enemies and friends.  He lived in an hostile environment.  Against this backdrop he won the favor of Nebechadnezzar and eventually found Nebechadnezzar putting his faith in Jehovah God!  This is a story of evangelism in a foreign land. 

I am going to preach a series on the first six chapters of Daniel for the following reasons.

First,  Daniel is in the Bible.  Paul said to Timothy that “all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable…” We will never read a book that is more God-breathed than the Bible.  Here in our hands we hold a Holy Bible, holy or set apart in that it contains God’s words to us.  God used human authors in such a way that the very words they wrote in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, were the very words God wanted to express the truths that we need to know.  Included in this holy canon is the book of Daniel.

Second, Daniel lived a godly life in an ungodly country.  What was common in Babylon went against the moral grain of Daniel and his friends.  Even the food created a problem for Daniel as the food of Babylon threatened the purity of his life before God.

We face that same dilemma and it is my prayer that Daniel will help us learn how to maneuver in this kind of an environment.

Third,  Daniel was an evangelist.  He wasn’t a Billy Graham kind of evangelist, he was a ordinary, go-to-work, do the job, kind of evangelist.  His confrontation of his culture which led to the conversion of the leader of Babylon is instructive to anyone who desires to serve God in our culture.

Fourth, I want to see our church mobilized to do evangelism not just in the church, but also where you are.  This message series is for you, to help you as you work through the issues you face.